General Education Review Committee
Meeting, 25 October 2000
KH 113, 4:45-5:45

Minutes

1. Additional Alumni representative

Dr. Ruiz raised the issue of adding another UNCA Alumni representative, as he had in mind a fine candidate. Her name is Ali Lingerfelt-Tait. She was an Art major and is currently in our MLA Program; she also has a nursing background and has expressed interest in one day teaching in the Humanities Program at UNCA. We discussed whether or not such an addition would be a problem, but committee members did not think one more member would create any concerns and might in fact offer us another useful perspective. Dr. Katz will contact her in the next few days.

2. Timetable for the revision process

In addition to working on the mission statement and goals, we should finalize a working timetable for the revision process. After discussion, it was decided that Dr. Katz will bring a draft timetable to the next meeting and the committee would spend a bit of time during the next two or three sessions (if it requires that long) revising it.

3. Senate Authorization

We discussed the need to acquire faculty support/authorization for our charge via the Senate. Dr. Katz will discuss with Dr. Mitchell, Chair of APC, and Dr. Caulfield, Chair of the Faculty Senate, the appropriate procedure and timetable for acquiring this authorization. 

4. Revision of Mission Statement

The committee discussed the Mission Statement and finished a revised draft. At the next meeting, we will begin revising the draft statement of goals for general education.

5. Senate Authorization issue revisited

We returned to the issue of the importance of Senate authorization or validation of our Charge. Members of the GERC reaffirmed their commitment to a public, faculty-driven general education reform process. It was agreed that we should work closely with the Senate and APC as we go about our work, thus reflecting our institution's tradition of faculty governance. In addition to the APC Review, GERC will also examine carefully the reports from the Chancellor's Task Forces on Diversity, Retention, and Partnerships, and the report from the Learning Circles on Student Development, thus making contact with the on-going SACS Self Study effort.

6. Next full GERC meeting: Wed., 11/8, 4:45-5:45, kh 113. Other meetings are scheduled for 11/29 (skipping a week for Thanksgiving Break), and 12/6.